NHL Hockey Power Rankings – March 13th Handicappers NHL Picks

NHL Hockey Power Rankings March 13

Looking for our updated NHL Hockey Power Rankings? We are coming down the stretch of yet another terrific NHL season – the cream rose to the top early this season and has stayed there for the entire year. However, this week saw a bigger shakeup in the Power Rankings than most – the Capitals enter the week on a four game losing streak, the Penguins have won five in a row and Canadian teams like Montreal, Ottawa and the Flames have been terrific over the last couple of weeks.

Version 9.0 – 2017 NHL Hockey Power Rankings

So where does your favorite team sit as we head down the stretch in the NHL Regular Season? Let’s take a look in Dave B’s bi-weekly NHL Power Rankings.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins (43-16-8)

– Two Weeks Ago: 4

How good have the Penguins been lately? They have won five in a row on a tough West Coast road trip and are 7-3-0 in their last 10 despite an almost unfair rash of injuries for the team, particularly on defense.

Pittsburgh is far and away the top scoring team in the league (236 so far) and takes over top spot in the Rankings because of the recent struggles of…

2. Washington Capitals (44-17-7)

– Two Weeks Ago: 1

The Caps enter the week on an uncharacteristic four game losing streak and now just sit one point up on the Pens in the overall standings.

Washington is still tops in the NHL in terms of goals against (152) and they still have the best goal differential in the league (+66) but are in the midst of a bit of a wakeup call as they slide out of #1 for the first time in a long while.

3. Minnesota Wild (43-18-6)

– Two Weeks Ago: 2

Currently sit in top spot in the West – just three points out of first overall in the NHL. The Wild just keep getting it done with a total team effort – they are second in the NHL in terms of goals for (223) and have surrendered just 163 along the way.

Minnesota is dangerous indeed despite being just 5-5 in their last 10 games overall.

4. Chicago Blackhawks (43-20-5)

– Two Weeks Ago: 3

The Hawks have gone 8-2-0 in their last 10 games overall and are just one point back of first place in the West.

Once again this team is ramping up at precisely the right time and appears to have ZERO holes as we head into the second season – scary for the rest of the league.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets (43-18-6)

– Two Weeks Ago: 6

Are you still waiting for the inevitable Columbus free-fall? Me too – but it ain’t happening folks. The team is 6-3-1 in their last 10 games overall and is still second best in the league in terms of goals against (157).

I don’t know if the Jackets are built for the playoffs but the Regular Season has certainly opened my eyes!

6. New York Rangers (44-23-2)

– Two Weeks Ago: 5

The Rangers were dealt some bad injury news last week when it was reported that Henrik Lundqvist would miss a couple of weeks.

The offense is still strong – their 223 goals for is second best in the NHL but the defense hasn’t been great all season long and takes a step back with this news.

7. San Jose Sharks (41-20-7)

– Two Weeks Ago: 7

The Sharks continue to impress – they are 7-2-1 in their last 10 games overall.

The Sharks added a bit of much needed veteran help at the deadline – Jannik Hansen is already paying off for a team whose defense has been top 5 all season long but whose offense needed a serious boost.

8. Ottawa Senators (39-22-6)

– Two Weeks Ago: 9

The Sens have been on quite a run – they head into the week on an impressive six game winning streak! Their addition of Victor Stalberg, Alex Burrows and Tommy Wingels at the trade deadline seems line genius moves.

Somehow Ottawa is in prime position to win the Atlantic – unreal.

9. Montreal Canadiens (39-22-8)

– Two Weeks Ago: 10

The Habs are the team that the Sens are chasing in the Atlantic. Montreal is 8-2-0 in their last 10 games overall and seem to be back to form with Claude Julien’s system fully in place.

The pieces are there for Montreal – their recent play suggests once again that they are a strong contender in the East.

10. Calgary Flames (38-26-4)

– Two Weeks Ago: 13

How about them Flames? They enter the week as the hottest team in the league (9 straight wins!) Nothing is going wrong for this team right now – if they could ever improve on a 19-14 record on home ice they would be an awfully tough out.

Goaltender Brian Elliot has been the difference lately – he has been absolutely remarkable between the pipes.

11. Edmonton Oilers (35-24-9)

– Two Weeks Ago: 8

The Oilers have slipped back down to earth lately – just 4-5-1 in their last 10 games overall. Still, the mix of youth and veteran leadership is special in Oil-land. For once there are few holes on the club – the defense has even been consistently strong!

12. Anaheim Ducks (36-23-10)

– Two Weeks Ago: 11

The Ducks have gone 6-4-0 in their last 10 games overall and sit in 10th place in the NHL Overall standings.

Their goaltending duo of John Gibson and Jonathan Bernier has been doing their parts to say the least and the talented to-to-bottom lineup has the Ducks as a quiet contender in the West.

About Dave B.

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer & sports handicapper for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.

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